Bob Balfe:
NFL
3:00 PM EST
Rotation #322
Eagles -2.5 over 49ers
Home-field advantage is massive in conference championship games, so Philadelphia has the edge right off the bat. Both teams have been excellent this year, but the Eagles have fewer flaws. Philly runs the ball well with Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell. You also have to account for the ability of quarterback Jalen Hurts to run the ball. The 49ers could have looked better against running QBs this year. Hurts has been incredible this season at QB, and the Eagles look like a well-oiled machine. The 49ers have a few injured running backs today, and Brock Purdy has only played in 6 NFL Games at QB. How often do you see a rookie who played a fraction of the games get to a super bowl? Look for the Eagles to dominate at home with the defense locking Purdy down and Hurts doing whatever it takes to put up points. Take the Eagles.
NFL
6:30 PM EST
Rotation #324
Chiefs -1.5 over Bengals
Chiefs/Bengals Over 48.5
It will be cold tonight in Kansas City, but it will be dry. Joe Burrow has unlimited targets. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd can all get open against a youthful Chiefs secondary. Cincinnati will generate a few scoring drives tonight. Patrick Mahomes had an injury scare last week, but he practiced and should be able to throw from the pocket at the very least. TE Travis Kelce will play, and the training staff will give him what is needed to keep his back from bothering him. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is a magician in finding ways to score. Eli Apple is an outstanding cornerback for the Bengals, but KC can beat you on one half of the field. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marques Valdes-Scandling can get themselves wide open for Mahomes to find. The biggest X-Factor is the Chiefs’ front seven against the Bengals’ offensive line. The Bengals have three new starters in the last few weeks and are vulnerable. Cincinnati did a great job last week against Buffalo, but the Chiefs have the second-most sacks in the NFL. Tonight’s game should be a back-and-forth thriller, but in the end, the Chiefs will take advantage of the injuries up front. Take the Chiefs and the Over.